TRAFFORD (AGAIN)

[Percy]

And there’s another game gone. Yes, there’s other issues but it’s basic errors that have again cost us. Totally derailed our season. Not the lad’s fault but cannot believe this has been allowed to go on for so long.

Its that awful managers fault that decided not to buy the players that won us the division below and then stopped playing all his good players for his super flop signings.

[FCBurnley]

Kelleher ( Liverpool back up keeper ) or Trafford Who would you prefer ?

[alwaysaclaret]

Kelleher ( Liverpool back up keeper ) or Trafford Who would you prefer ?

Muric

[boatshed bill]

You wish, a bit above that, but doesn't change the statement.

On a serious note; Adam Blacklaw was a fantastic keeper and one of my all-time favourite players. I just think that the modern game has changed too much to use him as an example of how a young keeper should play.

[Nori1958]

Its that awful managers fault that decided not to buy the players that won us the division below and then stopped playing all his good players for his super flop signings.

So, someone joins this board just before kick off to slag off the manager and goalkeeper... I wonder which one of the regulars is banned at the moment?

[alwaysaclaret]

On a serious note; Adam Blacklaw was a fantastic keeper and one of my all-time favourite players. I just think that the modern game has changed too much to use him as an example of how a young keeper should play.

So yes, on a serious note, it's still basics by Trafford, no matter how you dress it up.

[StayingDown4Ever]

So, someone joins this board just before kick off to slag off the manager and goalkeeper... I wonder which one of the regulars is banned at the moment?

Whoever he is, he’s not far wrong.

[Percy]

So yes, on a serious note, it's still basics by Trafford, no matter how you dress it up.

Level bottom with sheff utd now

[boatshed bill]

So yes, on a serious note, it's still basics by Trafford, no matter how you dress it up.

That I am not denying.
But I just don't choose to constantly have a go at the lad on a message board. It's not as though it has any purpose: should JT come on here for some coaching tips?

[Ric_C]

Out of everything this season, it's VK's stubbornness with the Trafford /Muric situation which is making me genuinely question him as a manager

[Percy]

Out of everything this season, it's VK's stubbornness with the Trafford /Muric situation which is making me genuinely question him as a manager

Needs to go , thrown away the season

[alwaysaclaret]

That I am not denying.
But I just don't choose to constantly have a go at the lad on a message board. It's not as though it has any purpose: should JT come on here for some coaching tips?

Probably, cos he's coach is stealing a living. But even at he's young age, if he hasn't got the basics now I doubt a coach could help at this stage, it should already be installed in him, and then progress from there.

[CHEWBACCA]

£19m reasons why he gets to start every week....

[123EasyasBFC]

Trafford might be a good shot stopper but he is only making saves you expect every premier league keeper to make

[boatshed bill]

Probably, cos he's coach is stealing a living. But even at he's young age, if he hasn't got the basics now I doubt a coach could help at this stage, it should already be installed in him, and then progress from there.

So the people in the England set-up are getting it wrong too>?

[Blatherwickstattoo]

Not ready for this league. Would struggle in the championship too. Far too lightweight and weak. But vk knows best….apparently

[alboclaret]

Fantastic keeper who will go to the very top of the game,unlike his detractors on here who will be getting up at 7 am on a Monday to go to their mundane minimum wage jobs.

[Barlickclaret]

92 mins against Luton, 30 mins today, then they launch one into 6 yrd box, and the rest is history.
Our defenders must be sick of putting 100% effort in, then Trafford flapps at the ball and we concede, but pointless changing now, we are down and he is the main reason.

[warksclaret]

Think VK has to take the responsibility with so much focus on Trafford. Other coaches in the PL would have rested their keeper had they been responsible for so many errors. Brighton, Forest, Palace are good examples

[boatshed bill]

You do realise that our defenders can also challenge for crosses.
Goalkeepers are not solely responsible for free headers.

[Percy]

92 mins against Luton, 30 mins today, then they launch one into 6 yrd box, and the rest is history.
Our defenders must be sick of putting 100% effort in, then Trafford flapps at the ball and we concede, but pointless changing now, we are down and he is the main reason.

If the definition of insanity is doing the same thing and excepting a different result should we be ordering the yellow taxi for Vinny?

[Boss Hogg]

We overpaid for him. He shouldn’t have started the PL season. He shouldn’t still be no 1. His only experience is league 1. VK will keep playing him hoping it comes good.

[Barlickclaret]

If the definition of insanity is doing the same thing and excepting a different result should we be ordering the yellow taxi for Vinny?

If not playing muric because of a fall out then yes VK should go, surely at he's level there shouldn't be any grudges.

[Percy]

If not playing muric because of a fall out then yes VK should go, surely at he's level there shouldn't be any grudges.

I’ve completely given up this season I don’t expect us to win again with VK in charge.

[boatshed bill]

If not playing muric because of a fall out then yes VK should go, surely at he's level there shouldn't be any grudges.

I really don't think a manager would shoot himself in the foot over any minor disagreement.
Unfortunately Muric (or Viroux) is not seen as good enough to take Trafford's place.

[kentonclaret]

According to Michael Dawson who was covering the game for Sky, Fofana missed a couple of golden opportunities to get Burnley back in the game at 1-2, one chance being described as “an open goal”.
No stick for Fofana though, losing the match was entirely down to a goalkeeper error by Trafford.

[StayingDown4Ever]

According to Michael Dawson who was covering the game for Sky, Fofana missed a couple of golden opportunities to get Burnley back in the game at 1-2, one chance being described as “an open goal”.
No stick for Fofana though, losing the match was entirely down to a goalkeeper error by Trafford.

Forfana rightly got stick in the match thread. Plus he hasn’t been making mistakes for us all season.

[Shaggy]

It’s every game this lad makes errors and looks week.

Let’s be honest who last season even mentioned Trafford as a young up and coming star? And we paid a kings ransom for him.

Why you would play a young lad who was bang average in League 1 in the EPL the next season is beyond me.

Worst keeper in the EPL this season.

[Murger]

According to Michael Dawson who was covering the game for Sky, Fofana missed a couple of golden opportunities to get Burnley back in the game at 1-2, one chance being described as “an open goal”.
No stick for Fofana though, losing the match was entirely down to a goalkeeper error by Trafford.

Amazing. Fofana has played 3 games, Trafford all season.

[roperclaret]

So the people in the England set-up are getting it wrong too>?

No, but Under 21 is a world away from real football. That’s why league one and two teams quite often batter Prem u-21 teams in the Mickey Mouse cup every season

[bumba]

According to Michael Dawson who was covering the game for Sky, Fofana missed a couple of golden opportunities to get Burnley back in the game at 1-2, one chance being described as “an open goal”.
No stick for Fofana though, losing the match was entirely down to a goalkeeper error by Trafford.

Nobody missed an open net, Fofana did miss two sitters no doubt about it but if Trafford gifted them two goals when we was playing well

[Westleigh]

That I am not denying.
But I just don't choose to constantly have a go at the lad on a message board. It's not as though it has any purpose: should JT come on here for some coaching tips?

Just done a quick add up ,todays posters who gave a rating for each player gave an average of 4.6 for Trafford .

[Steddyman]

Out of everything this season, it's VK's stubbornness with the Trafford /Muric situation which is making me genuinely question him as a manager

I 100% agree with this too. If he can't see the issue and adjust his tactics and bring in Muric, then he is too stubborn and blind to fix our problems. I never thought I'd say this, but if Muric doesn't start the next game, I want VK out.

[boatshed bill]

Just done a quick add up ,todays posters who gave a rating for each player gave an average of 4.6 for Trafford .

I'm not sure how relevant that is.

[Swizzlestick]

According to Michael Dawson who was covering the game for Sky, Fofana missed a couple of golden opportunities to get Burnley back in the game at 1-2, one chance being described as “an open goal”.
No stick for Fofana though, losing the match was entirely down to a goalkeeper error by Trafford.

Well it was nothing like an open goal, so let’s start with that. And then go with the fact Fofana scored twice last week and made his first start today. Trafford had been here all season and cost us on a number of occasions. Maybe that’s why Trafford is getting more heat.

[alwaysaclaret]

So the people in the England set-up are getting it wrong too>?

Massive difference in international u21 and premier league, absolutely huge.

[alwaysaclaret]

Needs to go , thrown away the season

Lots are prepared to give him the chance to bring us back up, firstly I'm not sure about that, doubt it will be as easy next time. But the big question is, what's the point, to come back to this, because we're 24 games in and he doesn't appear to me that he's learnt very much at all, so would he change anything next time, because at this moment in time he doesn't seem to be prepared to change.

[Percy]

Lots are prepared to give him the chance to bring us back up, firstly I'm not sure about that, doubt it will be as easy next time. But the big question is, what's the point, to come back to this, because we're 24 games in and he doesn't appear to me that he's learnt very much at all, so would he change anything next time, because at this moment in time he doesn't seem to be prepared to change.

Your right people keep saying he will learn lessons, he hasn’t learnt anything this season apart from not completely overplaying like we were earlier in the season. that’s for sure.

Is he going to repeat his game plan if and when we get promoted again. He doesn’t seem to deviate at all so it will probably happen again with another set of random players picked via his computer system.

I don’t think next season will be easy we will lose many good players.

I don’t see the need for this extreme turn over of players that he seems to like.

[Darthlaw]

The illusion of truth (particularly hindsight bias) which has been created surrounding Trafford is quite scary. We're now at the point where he is apparently making mistakes 'every week'.

On the flip side, I see one poster has today mentioned this is the first goal conceded which can solely be attributed to Trafford. Whilst I'm not sure of that, I'm pretty sure there is no more than 3 which are solely him to blame. Certainly one v Everton sticks in my mind as being another where he was dodgy on a cross.

Corner conceded where Assignon can hoof it down the field or Odobert loses his man for a free header from a corner? Traffords fault.
Ekdal running through custard last week losing his man or Vitinho playing the attacker 2 yards on? Traffords fault.
Striker blocks GK (widely seen in the press as a VAR cockup) allowing a free header for Luton? Traffords fault.
Bournemouth, where Vitinho gives the ball to Billing to lob the keeper? Trafford fault.

Ironically, when Muric throws a ball to the feet of an attacking player who scores as a result, thats the fault of our outfield player. Go figure. Even then, O'Shea has been to blame for at least one this season, Beyer definitely (he apologised to the fans) anv Vitinho involved in more than his fair share.

Ironically any save Trafford does make is 'for the cameras', 'simple' or my favourites ' saves a PL keeper should make'. This in the week we've seen howlers from the Liverpool and Man City's keepers. Even then we saw first hand Fulham's keeper make a hash of Fofana's first last week.

However, because of these mistakes that are being made 'every week' from Trafford we're now getting comments like:

'I would have been happy to see him leave last month for half of what we paid for him if it got him out the side stinking out the place.'
'Trafford strikes again....'
'Laughable from Trafford, a boy playing in a man's game'
'Thick from Trafford'
'he is weak and will single handedly cost us another season'
'The rest of the team must hate Trafford'
'get out of my club'

This is for a BFC player! I'd suggest some of our fans need to have a word with themselves, if this is what they consider support.

To be clear he cocked up the cross for the first today with the fact he alarmingly got the trajectory of the cross wrong, rather than having to outmuscle someone. He is weak at crosses and the fact we change our defence so often means as a unit this problem is made worse. Teams will target us as a result. I even stated in a thread this week that Trafford shouldnt have been signed at the start of this season as realistically strengthening other positions with PL experience was more critical but hey ho, something happened for Kompany to decide in June that Muric was not going to be our GK for the new season. Even then, in a clearly weaker division, those so aggressive in their accusations for Trafford's weekly mistakes might need to remember Muric's sheet wasnt entirely without blot.

So, whatever Muric has done or not done, it seems Trafford will be keeping the shirt for the remainder of the season shortfalls in his ability and all. Can those so vehemently anti trafford at least have a go at supporting the lad or at worst keep your little bullying, snide and frankly untrue comments like those quoted above to yourself?

[daveisaclaret]

Hard to imagine anyone saying with a straight face that he's better than Peacock-Farrell who has been pensioned off to Denmark, never mind Muric. An utterly shite goalie and a very suitable symbol for this whole wasted season.

[Percy]

Hard to imagine anyone saying with a straight face that he's better than Peacock-Farrell who has been pensioned off to Denmark, never mind Muric. An utterly shite goalie and a very suitable symbol for this whole wasted season.

I’ve only just seen the first goal today. If Kompany picks him next week he needs to go.

[RVclaret]

Trafford was excellent today aside from the first goal.

Way better than Peacock-Farrell. Will be a huge asset for the club moving forward.

[Darthlaw]

An utterly shite goalie and a very suitable symbol for this whole wasted season.

Within 6 minutes too.

Nevermind.

[daveisaclaret]

Within 6 minutes too.

Nevermind.

Haven't read your post because it was long and likely to be stupid, but come on. I will go on the Turf and support the players as I always have, but it isn't virtuous or impressive to pretend this goalie is good.

[123EasyasBFC]

Trafford was excellent today aside from the first goal.

Way better than Peacock-Farrell. Will be a huge asset for the club moving forward.

Excellent is abit of a stretch. He made saves every keeper in the league should make.

You say ‘aside from the first goal’ asif it doesn’t matter, the margins are that fine that his weakness is costing us potential points.

But it’s all on kompany for starting him over muric at beginning of the season

[RVclaret]

He made saves every keeper in the league should make.

Ah yes that old chestnut.

[ksrclaret]

Ironically, when Muric throws a ball to the feet of an attacking player who scores as a result, thats the fault of our outfield player. Go figure.

I've got no real problem with Trafford, but given your post is aimed at correcting misconceptions and calling out biases, could you please confirm which game you are referring to here?

If it's Spurs away in the Cup, I'm sure you'll wish to amend your statement when you watch it back and see that Muric chucked the ball to Amdouni who took a touch before the Spurs attacking player went and scored.

[123EasyasBFC]

Ah yes that old chestnut.

What did he do today that was excellent that you wouldn’t expect every keeper in the premier league to do?

[BigJay]

I'm really frustrated and baffled why Kompany has persisted with Trafford. I actually think the blame lies with the manager and seruous questions have to be asked about the coaching staff. He's a young lad and clearly has potential. But the Premier League is so unforgiving and he hasn't yet got the physical presence coming for crosses, his decision making and positioning has been questionable and his distribution erratic. His shot stopping is good mostly but many of the saves he makes you would expect most keepers playing at this level to make and are often after we've conceded soft goals. First goal today away v Liverpool he was directly at fault for the first goal. You could hear him shout for it and whoever is in the way as a keeper you have to get them out of the way and he isn't yet physically strong enough to do that. He got nowehere near the ball. And because of his lack of physicality he's increasingly not catching crosses, he's trying to punch them more and attackers are exploiting that weakness week in week out. He was also indirectly at fault for Liverpools second goal today by making a hash of a simple clearance. There were similar problems last week against Fulham and he was at fault again in the previous home game for Lutons equaliser, again, lack of strength, poor decision making and had he stayed on his line would have had an easy save to make probably. Its being going on all season and he seems undroppable in Kompanys eyes. I'm sick of it personally, Muric should have started at the beginning of the season and been brought in long before now to take Trafford out of the firing line. Then, if Muric wasnt good enough (which we dont know because he hasnt played one single minute in the premier league), then we should have looked at bringing someone else in the January window. I've come to the conclusion there are other factors at play here. Either Kompany can't see this for himself then he as a manager is incompetent or deluded, or both. However, I don't think that's the case, it's more likely that to get Trafford here the club took a gamble on his potential and made promises he would be No1 keeper and I would hazard a guess he's on massive wages too. There may be other factors behind the scenes with Muric we dont know, but I'm shocked and frustrated at the way he's been treated this season, theres no logic to it. Muric for me improved massively in the second half of last season and had a real presence about him. It's strange and disappointing we still don't know if Muric is good enough for the premier league either simpmy because Kompany has consistently stuck with Trafford and in press conferences its like no journos have the balls to ask him, they just seem in awe of Kompany and scared to ask, its pathetic and embarrassing. I'm also equally annoyed so many fans have persistently stuck with Trafford. He's potentially a top keeper, but right now he's not Premier level and it has cost us goals and points throughout the course of this season. Yes he's a young lad, with potential, but it is premier league football, this is a real mess and inexplicable why Kompany has stuck with him all season. He is miles off Heaton and Pope at this point in time. It seems to be a gamble that hasn't paid off as he's clearly not yet ready for this level and I would question whether his performances have enhanced his market value to make us a big profit, if that is what the plan was. He will benefit from a season in the championship, which by the way, is still a level above where he had played previously.

[RVclaret]

What did he do today that was excellent that you wouldn’t expect every keeper in the premier league to do?

Made quite a few good saves. Reflexes / positioning. One from Diaz first half and one from Nunez second half were top.